Kuala Lipis, Pahang, 23 October 2017 – True to its vision to “Inspire the World, Create a Future”, Samsung Malaysia Electronics has collaborated with the Industry Relations Division, Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE), to fulfil its corporate responsibility of improving the living conditions and creating a brighter future for the people of Kampung Ulu Tual, Kuala Lipis.

Over the weekend, Samsung organised an expedition to the Orang Asli village, where staff volunteered to upgrade the village’s infrastructure and to spread cheer to its community through a series of fun and educational engagement activities.

Samsung had previously observed that Kampung Ulu Tual was lacking two very basic yet essential utilities: light and clean water. Under its ‘Samsung Love & Care’ initiative, Samsung donated 300 Solar LED lights for the utilisation of 140 houses in the village. Samsung hopes that with this, the residents will be able to do and achieve more things, especially at night. A Solar Automated Self-Cleaning Mobile Ultrafiltration System, developed by University of Malaya, was also installed. This water filter system uniquely uses solar energy to treat water from the hills, river, and rain for safe consumption by the entire village.

Apart from that, Samsung staff and volunteers also interacted with the folks using Samsung tablets equipped with learning tools, in hopes of educating and stimulating villagers on to a wider path for a better future. This is part of Samsung’s ongoing efforts to increase literacy rates among all people of the village, especially the children.

Leading the Samsung Love & Care expedition was Dato’ Roh Jae Yeol, Corporate Affairs Director of Samsung Malaysia Electronics. “Samsung Love & Care’ programme, previously known as the ‘Nanum Village’ initiative, is one of Samsun’s ways to give back to our community. Through the initiative in 2015 and 2016, Samsung provided Kampung Ulu Tual with solar panels, TVs, lights, and educational materials that was fully utilised and became a source of motivation for the folks there. We are back again this year to continue what we started to create positive change for people in need and help them live better lives – one that is full of possibilities,” he said.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Arham bin Abdullah, Director, Industry Relations Division of the Ministry of Higher Education, applauded Samsung Malaysia Electronics’ continued efforts in creating brighter futures for those in need and encouraged large organisations to follow suit and keep up similar efforts. “Through the National Blue Ocean Strategy 4 (NBOS4) programme, Samsung Malaysia Electronics was connected to University of Malaya, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka and Universiti Malaysia Pahang to help and provide for Kampung Ulu Tual. I believe that what Samsung has done is in line with what the government plans for the nation. Following this, I strongly urge large organizations to fulfil their corporate responsibilities in giving back to the community as only through empathy, are we able to fully connect with one another and grow,” he said.

Samsung Love & Care volunteers are delighted to give back to the community in Kampung Ulu Tual, Kuala Lipis, Pahang for the third consecutive year.

Children from Kampung Ulu Tual happily posing for a selfie with Samsung Love & Care volunteers.

Prof. Azlan Hussain (far right) from University of Malaya’s Department of Chemical Engineering, demonstrating the Solar Automated Self-Cleaning Mobile Ultrafiltration system as Dato’ Roh Jae Yeol, Corporate Affairs Director of Samsung Malaysia Electronics (third from left), Director of Industry Relations Division, Ministry of Higher Education, Prof. Arham bin Abdullah (fourth from left), Distinguished Research Professor from Sunway University, Prof. Mohammad Kheireddine Aroua (fifth from left), Tok Batin Harun (sixth from left) and the team from Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) look on.

Fun English learning with Samsung tablets

It all began in 2015 when Samsung Malaysia Electronics first set foot in Kampung Ulu Tual in Kuala Lipis, located in the eastern state of Pahang, for its community outreach initiative. Kampung Ulu Tual, a 3-hour drive from Malaysia’s bustling capital, is a village adopted by Samsung under its corporate citizenship banner. Samsung volunteers were reminded of the true meaning of friendship and teamwork after spending some time with the locals working to improve the infrastructure of the village, teaching them the learning tools of Samsung tablets, and immersing themselves in the village culture.

At that time, the initiative was known as the Nanum Village effort under the brand’s Hope for Tomorrow community building campaign. ‘Nanum’ means sharing in the Korean language and this fits perfectly with Samsung’s unwavering commitment to continue sharing meaningful innovations to sustain social development and support underserved communities all over the globe.

The first local mission took place two years ago where the indigenous community of Kampung Ulu Tual greeted all 56 Samsung volunteers with generous hospitality, warm smiles and captivating traditional performances. Their faces were beaming with excitement and villagers ‘crowned’ some volunteers with beautiful headgears decorated with colourful flowers and made of palm tree leaves as welcome gifts. Prior to this, the village had no access to a proper source of electricity since it is located in a secluded area. Samsung looked beyond the usual food and household supplies donation and decided to install solar panels to improve their electricity supply and Samsung refrigerators at their Pusat Didikan Komuniti (PDK) for the villagers so they can enjoy the facilities like a common household would. Samsung volunteers also helped the locals to repair their huts, ensuring that the villagers have decent everyday shelters from the rain or sun.

Kampung Ulu Tual’s Community Learning Center or Pusat Didikan Komuniti (PDK) has two full-time teachers stationed there to provide education to the children, and the hall would sometimes be used for other community-related activities. The presence of good electricity supply in the village paved way for the children to learn in a much more fun and engaging way. Samsung donated Smart TV, Galaxy Tab pre-loaded with fun educational contents and books for the children to turn the dream of education into reality. Samsung volunteers eagerly tutored the children on how to use the tablets and the pre-loaded apps during educational activities. A signage for the PDK was also raised as part of its community service.

The memories made in 2015 were so heartening that Samsung returned to improve the village and doubled their investment for the same mission the following year. Samsung volunteers participated and worked closely with the locals to improve the village by installing additional solar panels and lights, therefore improving the village’s electricity supply. To ensure that the villagers continue to have access to decent basic living necessities, Samsung donated food, homecare, sports and educational supplies. In addition to that, Samsung targets to prepare young villagers for their future academic achievements by teaching them the English language, therefore giving them the opportunity to master an additional language before they embark on the next step of their educational journey.

Samsung is set to return to Kampung Ulu Tual once more under the Samsung Love & Care Programme, a re-brand of Samsung Nanum Village initiative, to bring more improvements to its growing community. Samsung hopes that the Samsung Love & Care Programme will be a source of inspiration for more corporations to step up and help those communities in need and improve livelihoods to create a brighter and more sustainable future.